Pregnancy Outcomes in Survivors of Adolescent and Young Adult Breast Cancer: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between adolescent and young adult (AYA) breast cancer (BC) and the adverse pregnancy outcomes of preterm birth, small for gestational age birth, cesarean delivery, and preeclampsia, and the effect of fertility treatment on this association. METHODS: Population-based cohort study with universal coverage health data for Ontario, Canada. BC was identified from the Ontario Cancer Registry. All births >220 weeks gestation between April 2006 to March 2018 were included. Modified Poisson regression generated risk ratios between AYA BC and adverse pregnancy outcomes, adjusted for maternal characteristics. Models were stratified by fertility treatment. RESULTS: Among 1 189 980 deliveries, 474 mothers had AYA BC history (exposed), while 1 189 506 had no cancer history (unexposed). AYA BC was associated with cesarean delivery (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] 1.26; 95% CI 1.14-1.39). There was no association between AYA BC and other adverse outcomes. Modelling cesarean delivery subtypes, AYA BC was associated with increased risk of planned (aRR 1.27; 95% CI 1.08-1.49) and unplanned cesarean delivery (aRR 1.41; 95% CI 1.20-1.66). An increased risk of cesarean delivery in exposed persisted among singleton pregnancies (aRR 1.27; 95% CI 1.15-1.41), but not in models stratified by mode of conception (fertility treatment: aRR 1.07; 95% CI 0.84-1.36; unassisted conception: aRR 1.30; 95% CI 1.16-1.46). CONCLUSIONS: A history of AYA BC did not confer an elevated risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, except for planned and unplanned cesarean delivery. The risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes does not appear to be an indication for delayed pregnancy after AYA BC diagnosis.

Endometriosis, Severe Maternal Morbidity, and the Effect of Infertility: Population-Based Cohort Study.

This population-based cohort evaluated the association between endometriosis and severe maternal morbidity (SMM), and the mediating effect of infertility and fertility treatment. Included were all singleton deliveries in Ontario between 2006 and 2014. Modified Poisson regression generated adjusted relative risks. Mediation analysis estimated the direct effect of endometriosis and indirect effect through infertility and mode of conception. 787 449 deliveries were included (19 099, 2.4% with endometriosis). SMM occurred in 29.0 per 1000 deliveries among women with endometriosis, in contrast to 18.2 per 1000 deliveries among those without endometriosis-corresponding to an adjusted relative risk of SMM of 1.43 (95% CI 1.31-1.56). Mediation analysis demonstrated that the effect of endometriosis on SMM was independent of infertility or fertility treatment. We conclude that SMM in women with endometriosis appears to be due to the disease itself and not to infertility or related treatments.

Effect of neurosurgical residency programs on neurosurgical patient outcomes in a single health care system: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The evidence on the benefits and drawbacks of involving neurosurgical residents in the care of patients who undergo neurosurgical procedures is heterogeneous. We assessed the effect of neurosurgical residency programs on the outcomes of such patients in a large single-payer public health care system. METHODS: Ten population-based cohorts of adult patients in Ontario who received neurosurgical care from 2013 to 2017 were identified on the basis of procedural codes, and the cohorts were followed in administrative health data sources. Patient outcomes by the status of the treating hospital (with or without a neurosurgical residency program) within each cohort were compared with models adjusted for a priori confounders and with adjusted multilevel models (MLMs) to also account for hospital-level factors. RESULTS: A total of 46 608 neurosurgical procedures were included. Operative time was 8%-30% longer in hospitals with neurosurgical residency programs in 9 out of 10 cohorts. Thirty-day mortality was lower in hospitals with neurosurgical residency programs for aneurysm repair (odds ratio [OR] 0.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.20-0.44), cerebrospinal fluid shunting (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.34-0.79), intracerebral hemorrhage evacuation (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.52-0.84), and posterior lumbar decompression (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.15-0.65) in adjusted models. The mortality rates remained significantly different only for aneurysm repair (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.05-0.69) and cerebrospinal shunting (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.21-0.85) in MLMs. Length of stay was mostly shorter in hospitals with neurosurgical residents, but this finding did not persist in MLMs. Thirty-day reoperation rates did not differ between hospital types in MLMs. For 30-day readmission rates, only extracerebral hematoma decompression was significant in MLMs (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.07-1.87). CONCLUSION: Hospitals with neurosurgical residents had longer operative times with similar to better outcomes. Most, but not all, of the differences between hospitals with and without residency programs were explained by hospital-level variables rather than direct effects of residents.

Prescribed opioid analgesics in early pregnancy and the risk of congenital anomalies: a population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Recent data suggest an increased risk of congenital anomalies with prenatal exposure to opioid analgesics. We sought to further quantify the risk of anomalies after opioid analgesic exposure during the first trimester in a population-based cohort study. METHODS: Using administrative health data from Ontario, we followed 599 579 gestational parent-infant pairs from singleton pregnancies without opioid use disorder. We identified opioid analgesics dispensed in the first trimester and congenital anomalies diagnosed during the first year of life. We estimated propensity score-adjusted risk ratios (RRs) between first trimester exposure (any opioid analgesic and specific agents) and congenital anomalies (any anomaly, organ system anomalies, major or minor anomalies and specific anomalies). RESULTS: The prevalence of congenital anomalies was 2.8% in exposed infants and 2.0% in unexposed infants. Relative to unexposed infants, we observed elevated risks among those who were exposed for some anomaly groups, including gastrointestinal anomalies (any opioid analgesic: adjusted RR 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15-1.85; codeine: adjusted RR 1.53, 95% CI 1.12-2.09; tramadol: adjusted RR 2.69, 95% CI 1.34-5.38) and several specific anomalies, including ankyloglossia (any opioid: adjusted RR 1.88, 95% CI 1.30-2.72; codeine: adjusted RR 2.14, 95% CI 1.35-3.40). These findings persisted in sensitivity analyses. INTERPRETATION: Although the absolute risk of congenital anomalies was low, our findings add to accumulating data that suggest a small increased risk of some organ system anomalies and specific anomalies with first trimester exposure to opioid analgesics. These findings further quantify the potential risks associated with prenatal exposure to opioid analgesics to inform treatment choices for pain in pregnancy.

Incidence and Risk Factors of Venous Thromboembolism Following Hepatectomy for Colorectal Metastases: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) following hepatectomy for colorectal cancer (CRC) metastases is unclear. These patients may represent a vulnerable population due to increased tumour burden. We aim to identify the risk of VTE development in routine clinical practice among patients with resected CRC liver metastases, the associated risk factors, and its impact on survival. METHODS: We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study of Ontario patients undergoing hepatectomy for CRC metastases between 2002 and 2009 using linked universal healthcare databases. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the association between patient characteristics and VTE risk at 30 and 90-days after surgery. Cox proportional-hazards regression was used to estimate the association between VTE and adjusted cancer specific (CSS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: 1310 patients were included with a mean age of 63 ± 11. 62% were male. 51% had one metastatic deposit. Major hepatectomy occurred in 64%. VTE occurred in 4% within 90 days of liver resection. Only longer length of stay was associated with VTE development (OR 6.88 (2.57-18.43), p <0.001 for 15-21 days versus 0-7 days). 38% of VTEs were diagnosed after discharge, comprising 1.52% of the total cohort. VTE was not associated with inferior CSS or OS. CONCLUSIONS: Risk of VTE development in this population is similar to those undergoing hepatectomy for other indications, and to the risk following other cancer site resections where post-operative extended VTE prophylaxis is currently recommended. The number of VTEs occurring after discharge suggests there may be a role for extended VTE prophylaxis.

Rooming-in for Infants at Risk for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: Outcomes 5 Years following Its Introduction as the Standard of Care at One Hospital.

OBJECTIVE: The practice of rooming-in for opioid-dependent infants was introduced as the standard of care at our hospital following a pilot study which demonstrated that such infants had shorter lengths of stay and were less likely to require pharmacological treatment. We sought to determine whether these benefits have continued, and whether outcomes support continuing to use rooming-in as standard care. STUDY DESIGN: Opioid-dependent infants delivered at 36 weeks gestation or later between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2019, were eligible for rooming-in. Charts were reviewed and data were extracted regarding maternal and infant conditions, whether neonatal pharmacological treatment was required, and total length of hospital stay. Outcomes were compared with two historical groups reported in a previous pilot study: 24 healthy near-term opioid-dependent newborns who were admitted directly to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) prior to the introduction of rooming-in (May 1, 2012-May 31, 2013), and 20 similar opioid-dependent infants who were the first to room-in at our hospital (September 1, 2013-September 30, 2014). RESULTS: Only 3.5% of 57 infants who roomed-in during the 5-year study period required pharmacological treatment, compared with 15% who roomed-in during the first year of the program's introduction and 83.3% who had been admitted directly to the NICU. The median length of stay remained 5 days for infants rooming-in, compared with 24 days for opioid-dependent infants in the cohort admitted to the NICU. CONCLUSION: Early observations of the benefits of rooming-in on neonatal outcomes were sustained. Infants allowed to room-in were significantly less likely to require initiation of pharmacotherapy and a prolonged hospital stay than similar infants prior to the implementation of rooming-in as standard care. A large proportion of the infants who might have benefited from rooming-in required admission to the NICU for reasons other than neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). KEY POINTS: · Benefits of rooming-in for near-term opioid-dependent infants were sustained or increased.. · Rooming-in is sustainable as standard care for these newborns.. · Many infants required admission to NICU for reasons other than NAS..

Prenatal Opioid Analgesics and the Risk of Adverse Birth Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether confounding accounts for the increased risk of preterm birth and small for gestational age (SGA) birth in opioid analgesic exposed pregnancies. METHODS: Using universal coverage health data for Ontario, we assembled a cohort of mother-infant pairs without opioid use disorder (627,172 pregnancies and 509,522 women). We estimated risk ratios (RRs) between opioid analgesics and preterm birth, SGA birth, and stillbirth; neonatal abstinence syndrome was a secondary outcome. We used high-dimensional propensity scores and sensitivity analyses for confounding adjustment. RESULTS: 4% of pairs were exposed, mainly to codeine (2%), morphine (1%), and oxycodone (1%). Compared with unexposed, the adjusted risk of preterm birth was higher with any (1.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2, 1.3), first- (RR: 1.2, 95% CI = 1.2, 1.3), and second-trimester (RR: 1.3, 95% CI = 1.2, 1.4) opioid analgesic exposure. Preterm birth risk was higher for first- and second-trimester codeine, morphine, and oxycodone exposure, and for third-trimester morphine. There was a small increase in SGA with first-trimester exposure to any opioid analgesic or to codeine. Exposed pregnancies had an elevated stillbirth risk with any (RR: 1.6, 95% CI = 1.4, 1.8), first- and second-trimester exposure. Few infants had neonatal abstinence syndrome (N = 143); the risk was higher in exposed (RR: 3.6, 95% CI = 2.1, 6.0). In sensitivity analyses of unmeasured confounding, an elevated risk in exposed pregnancies persisted for preterm birth but not SGA. CONCLUSIONS: Opioid analgesic-exposed pregnancies had a small increased risk of preterm birth and possibly stillbirth after accounting for confounding by indication and sociodemographic factors.

Long-term follow-up of endometriosis surgery in Ontario: a population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological disease affecting approximately 10% of reproductive aged females and leads to decreased quality of life and productivity. Despite effective medical options, many women do require surgery for endometriosis. There is limited literature examining long term outcomes of endometriosis surgery. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to characterize the long-term outcomes, including recurrence of symptoms, fertility outcomes, and need for reoperation, of patients who underwent surgical management for endometriosis. STUDY DESIGN: This was a population-based cohort study in which the universal coverage health database for the province of Ontario, Canada, was used to identify women aged 18 to 50 years who underwent surgery for endometriosis from April 1, 2002, through March 31, 2018. Surgery was classified as diagnostic laparoscopy, conservative or uterine preserving (minor or major, with and without ovarian preservation), or hysterectomy (with and without ovarian preservation). The outcomes were evaluated from 30 days after the index surgery to the end of the study period or at censoring. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratios between exposures and outcomes following adjustment for confounders. RESULTS: A total of 84,885 women 2,718 (3.2%) diagnostic laparoscopy, 21,594 (25.4%) minor conservative surgery, 28,484 (33.6%); major conservative with ovarian preservation, 2,102 (2.5%) major conservative without ovarian preservation, 21,609 (25.5%) hysterectomy with ovarian preservation, and 8,378 (9.9%) hysterectomy without ovarian preservation) were included in the cohort and followed for a median of 10 years (interquartile range, 6-13 years). In the first postoperative year, women who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy were significantly more likely to require repeat surgery (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.68; 95% confidence interval, 1.51-1.87), whereas those who underwent major conservative surgery were significantly less likely to require repeat surgery (with ovarian preservation: adjusted hazard ratio, 0.44; 95% confidence interval, 0.41-0.48; without ovarian preservation: adjusted hazard ratio, 0.05; 95% confidence interval, 0.03-0.09). Among women who did not receive repeat surgery in the first year, those who underwent a diagnostic laparoscopy (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.85; 95% confidence interval, 0.76-0.95) and major conservative surgery without ovarian preservation were less likely to undergo repeat surgery (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.12; 95% confidence interval, 0.09-0.18) than those who initially had minor surgery. Compared with those who initially underwent minor surgery, patients who underwent other treatment modalities were less likely to undergo a hysterectomy (diagnostic laparoscopy: adjusted hazard ratio, 0.85; 95% confidence interval, 0.75-0.96; major surgery with ovarian preservation: adjusted hazard ratio, 0.60; 95% confidence interval, 0.57-0.64; major surgery without ovarian preservation: adjusted hazard ratio, 0.05; 95% confidence interval, 0.03-0.08). Following minor and major conservative with ovarian preservation surgery, 8,331 (38.6%) and 9,498 (33.3%) of patients sought an infertility consult within 1 year, respectively. By 5 years after the index surgery, 5,290 (29.4%) of patients who had minor conservative surgery and 4,528 (20.7%) of those who had major conservative with ovarian preservation surgery had given birth at least once. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that only a few endometriosis patients who undergo hysterectomy surgery require repeat surgery; however, up to 1 in 4 who undergo minor surgery and 1 in 5 who undergo major conservative surgery with ovarian preservation require additional endometriosis surgery. Up to 1 in 3 patients who had uterine sparing endometriosis surgery subsequently sought an infertility assessment. These findings may inform preoperative counseling in terms of recurrence of symptoms, fertility outcomes, and need for reoperation of women seeking surgical management for endometriosis. Future studies should consider the outcomes of patient satisfaction and quality of life based on the current practices for management of endometriosis.

Short-term outcomes of endometriosis surgery in Ontario: A population-based cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Our objective was to compare the short-term outcomes by type of surgical management of endometriosis in Ontario, Canada and to characterize the population of women undergoing surgical management of endometriosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a population-based cohort study including women aged 18-50 years undergoing same-day or inpatient surgery for endometriosis from 1 April 2002 through 31 March 2018. Surgery was classified as minimally invasive hysterectomy (MIH), total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) or minor or major conservative (uterus-preserving) surgery. Outcomes examined included length of stay, intraoperative complications, postoperative complications, emergency department visits, ambulatory care visits, and readmission. We estimated the relative risk of these outcomes in minor, major conservative surgery and TAH vs MIH adjusted for age, income quintile, parity, and comorbidities. RESULTS: A total of 85 605 patients underwent surgery, 12.9% MIH, 22.1% TAH, 36.3% major conservative, and 28.6% minor conservative. The mean age at index surgery was 37.6 ± 7.7 years. Before surgery, 70.6% of patients had visited a physician for pain at least once (64.7% MIH, 69.5% TAH, 71.1% major conservative and 73.4% minor conservative) and 23.5% of patients had sought infertility consultation (5.7% MIH, 6.6% TAH, 29.3% major conservative and 37.1% minor conservative). The overall risk of intraoperative and postoperative complications was 1.5% and 4.7%, respectively. In adjusted models, compared with those undergoing minor conservative surgery, those having major conservative surgery were 1.77 (95% CI 1.49-2.11) times as likely to experience an intraoperative complication, those having MIH and TAH were 2.55 (95% CI 2.08-3.13) and 2.34 (95% CI 1.93-2.82) times as likely to do so, respectively. Similarly, compared with those undergoing minor conservative surgery, those having major conservative surgery were 2.60 (95% CI 2.30, 2.93) times as likely to experience any postoperative complication, and those having MIH and TAH were 4.69 (95% CI 4.11-5.36) and 5.38 (95% CI 4.76-6.09) times as likely to do so, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately one-third of patients undergoing surgical management for endometriosis in Ontario between 2002 and 2018 had a hysterectomy. Overall, complications following surgery were low, and dependent on extent of surgery. These results should help to inform preoperative counseling for patients and health policy development for providers.

Salvage Abdominoperineal Resection for Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Use, Risk Factors, and Outcomes in a Canadian Population.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported that 30% to 40% of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anus will require salvage abdominoperineal resection after chemoradiotherapy. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify the use, risk factors, and impact on survival of salvage abdominal perineal resection for squamous cell carcinoma of the anus. DESIGN: This was a retrospective, population-based cohort study. SETTINGS: Patients treated in Ontario, Canada through a single-payer universal healthcare system, were included. PATIENTS: Patients included all incident cases of squamous cell anal cancer who underwent curative intent radiotherapy from 2007 to 2015. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Risk of salvage abdominoperineal resection, factors associated with salvage abdominoperineal resection, and survival were measured. RESULTS: A total of 1125 patients were treated with curative intent radiotherapy for squamous cell cancer of the anus. Within this cohort, salvage surgery was performed in 8% (93/1125), whereas 14% (156/1125) required a permanent colostomy. In log-binomial regression, younger age was associated with salvage surgery, whereas sex, cancer stage, socioeconomic status, and HIV were not. There was a suggested lower risk of salvage surgery in those who completed chemoradiation (relative risk = 0.67 (95% CI, 0.43-1.03)). Crude 5-year overall survival rate was 73% (95% CI, 70%-76%) in those not requiring salvage surgery and 48% (95% CI, 37%-58%) in those who did. In Cox models, mortality was higher in patients requiring salvage surgery compared with those who did not (adjusted HR = 2.20 (95% CI, 1.65-2.94), whereas improved survival was seen in those who completed chemoradiation (HR = 0.65 (95% CI, 0.42-0.82)) LIMITATIONS:: The study was limited by its potential residual confounding by indication for salvage surgery. CONCLUSIONS: In this large, contemporary cohort of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anus, the proportion of patients undergoing salvage surgery was considerably lower than previous reports. Younger age was associated with salvage surgery, and there was a suggestion of lower risk of salvage surgery with completion of chemoradiation. Patients requiring salvage surgery had poor 5-year overall survival. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/B205. RAP DE RESCATE PARA EL CARCINOMA ANAL DE CéLULAS ESCAMOSAS: USO, FACTORES DE RIESGO Y RESULTADOS EN UNA POBLACIóN CANADIENSE: Estudios anteriores han reportado que 30-40% de los pacientes con carcinoma de células escamosas del ano requerirán una resección abdominoperineal de rescate después de la quimiorradioterapia.Identificar la utilización, los factores de riesgo y el impacto en la supervivencia de la resección abdominoperineal de rescate para el carcinoma de células escamosas del ano.Estudio de cohorte retrospectivo, basado en la población.Todos los casos incidentes de cáncer anal de células escamosas que se sometieron a radioterapia con fines curativos de 2007 a 2015.Pacientes tratados en Ontario, Canadá, un sistema de salud universal de un solo pagador.Riesgo de resección abdominoperineal de rescate, factores asociados con la resección abdominoperineal de rescate y la supervivencia.1125 pacientes fueron tratados con radioterapia de intención curativa para el cáncer de células escamosas del ano. Dentro de esta cohorte, la cirugía de rescate se realizó en el 8% (93/1125), mientras que el 14% (156/1125) requirió una colostomía permanente. En la regresión log-binomial, la edad más joven se asoció con la cirugía de rescate, mientras que el sexo, la etapa del cáncer, el estado socioeconómico y el VIH no. Se sugirió un menor riesgo de cirugía de rescate en aquellos que completaron la quimiorradiación (RR 0,67; IC del 95%: 0,43 a 1,03). La tasa de supervivencia global bruta a 5 años fue del 73% (IC del 95%: 70-76%) en aquellos que no requirieron cirugía de rescate y del 48% (IC del 95%: 37-58%) en los que sí lo requirieron. En los modelos de Cox, la mortalidad fue mayor en los pacientes que requirieron cirugía de rescate en comparación con aquellos que no lo requirieron (HR ajustado 2.20, IC 95%: 1.65 - 2.94), mientras que se observó una mejor supervivencia en aquellos que completaron la quimiorradiación (HR 0.65, IC 95% 0.42 - 0,82).Posible confusión residual por indicación de cirugía de rescate.En esta gran cohorte contemporánea de pacientes con carcinoma de células escamosas del ano, la proporción de pacientes sometidos a cirugía de rescate fue considerablemente menor que los informes anteriores. La edad más temprana se asoció con la cirugía de rescate, y se sugirió un menor riesgo de cirugía de rescate con la finalización de la quimiorradiación. Los pacientes que requirieron cirugía de rescate tuvieron una deficiente supervivencia general de 5 años. Consulte Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/B205. (Traducción-Dr Gonzalo Hagerman).

Traumatic Brain Injury and Opioid Overdose Among Post-9/11 Veterans With Long-Term Opioid Treatment of Chronic Pain.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and nonfatal opioid overdose, and the role of psychiatric conditions as mediators of this association. SETTING: Post-9/11 veterans receiving care at national Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities from 2007 to 2012. PARTICIPANTS: In total, 49 014 veterans aged 18 to 40 years receiving long-term opioid treatment of chronic noncancer pain. DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study using VA registry data. MAIN MEASURES: TBI was defined as a confirmed diagnosis (28%) according to VA comprehensive TBI evaluation; no TBI was defined as a negative primary VA TBI screen (ie, no head injury). Nonfatal opioid overdose was defined using ICD-9 (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision) codes. We performed demographic-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression. We quantified the impact of co-occurring and individual psychiatric conditions (mood, anxiety, substance use, and posttraumatic stress disorder) on this association using mediation analyses. RESULTS: Veterans with TBI had more than a 3-fold increased risk of opioid overdose compared with those without (adjusted hazards ratio [aHR] = 3.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.13-4.89). This association was attenuated in mediation analyses of any co-occurring psychiatric condition (aHR = 1.77; 95% CI, 1.25-2.52) and individual conditions (aHR range, 1.52-2.95). CONCLUSION: TBI status, especially in the context of comorbid conditions, should be considered in clinical decisions regarding long-term use of opioids in patients with chronic pain.

Palliative Care and Symptom Burden in the Last Year of Life: A Population-Based Study of Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: The symptom profile in cancer patients and the association between palliative care (PC) and symptoms has not been studied in the general population. We addressed these gaps in gastrointestinal (GI) cancer patients in the final year of life. METHODS: Patients dying of esophageal, gastric, colon, and anorectal cancers during 2003-2015 were identified. Symptom scores were recorded in the year before death using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS), which includes scores from 0 to 10 in nine domains. Symptom severity was categorized as none-mild (≤ 3) or moderate-severe (≥ 4-10). Adjusted associations between outpatient PC and moderate-severe ESAS scores were determined, and the effect of PC initiation on ESAS scores was estimated. RESULTS: The cohort included 11,242 patients who died (esophageal [17%], gastric [20%], colon [38%], and anorectal [26%] cancers). Fifty percent experienced moderate-severe scores in tiredness, lack of well-being, and lack of appetite earlier (weeks 18 to 12 before death), whereas 50% experienced moderate-severe scores in drowsiness, pain, and shortness of breath later (weeks 5 to 2 before death) in the disease course. Outpatient PC was associated with an increased likelihood of moderate-severe scores in all domains, with the highest score in pain (odds ratio [OR] 1.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.68-2.05). In PC-naïve patients with moderate-severe scores, initiation of outpatient PC was associated with a 1- to 3-point decrease in subsequent scores, with the greatest reductions in pain (OR - 1.91, 95% CI - 2.11 to - 1.70) and nausea (OR - 3.01, 95% CI - 3.31 to - 2.71). CONCLUSION: GI cancer patients experience high symptom burden in the final year of life. Outpatient PC initiation is associated with a decrease in symptoms.

Ten-year risk of complication and mortality after total hip arthroplasty in morbidly obese patients: a population study

Background: The relationship between morbid obesity and long-term patient outcomes after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) has been understudied. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between morbid obesity and 10-year complications (revision surgery, reoperation, dislocation) and mortality in patients undergoing primary THA. Methods: We conducted a population-based cohort study of patients aged 45­74 years who underwent primary THA for osteoarthritis between 2002 and 2007 using Ontario administrative health care databases. Patients were followed for 10 years. We estimated risk ratios (RRs) of mortality, reoperation, revision and dislocation in patients with body mass index (BMI) greater than 45 kg/m2 (morbidly obese patients) compared with patients with a BMI of 45 kg/m2 or less (nonmorbidly obese patients). Results: There were 22 251 patients in the study cohort, of whom 726 (3.3%) were morbidly obese. Morbid obesity was associated with higher 10-year risk of death (RR 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18­1.62). Risks of revision (RR 1.43, 95% CI 0.96­2.13) and dislocation (RR 2.38, 95% CI 1.38­4.10) were higher in morbidly obese men than in nonmorbidly obese men; there were no associations between obesity and revision or dislocation in women. Risk of reoperation was higher in morbidly obese women than in nonmorbidly obese women (RR 1.59, 95% CI 1.05­2.40); there was no association between obesity and reoperation in men. Conclusion: Morbidly obese patients undergoing primary THA are at higher risk of long-term mortality and complications. There were differences in complication risk by sex. The results of this study should inform perioperative counselling of patients considering THA.

Contexte: Le lien entre l'obésité morbide et les issues à long terme des patients ayant subi une arthroplastie totale primaire de la hanche (ATH) est sous-étudié. Cette étude visait à caractériser l'association entre l'obésité morbide et les complications (chirurgie de révision, réintervention, dislocation) et la mortalité sur 10 ans chez les patients ayant subi une ATH. Méthodes: Nous avons mené une étude de cohorte basée sur la population auprès de patients de 45 à 74 ans atteints d'arthrose ayant subi une ATH primaire entre 2002 et 2007 en utilisant les bases de données administratives en santé de l'Ontario. Les patients ont été suivis pour une période de 10 ans. Nous avons estimé des rapports de risque (RR) pour la mortalité, la réintervention, la chirurgie de révision et la dislocation chez les patients ayant un indice de masse corporelle (IMC) de plus de 45 kg/m2 (obésité morbide) en comparaison avec les patients ayant un IMC de 45 kg/m2 ou moins. Résultats: L'étude de cohorte comptait 22 251 patients, dont 726 (3,3 %) étaient atteints d'obésité morbide. L'obésité morbide a été associée à un risque de mortalité sur 10 ans accru (RR 1,38; intervalle de confiance [IC] de 95 % 1,18­1,62). Le risque de chirurgie de révision (RR 1,43; IC de 95 % 0,96­2,13) et de dislocation (RR 2,38; IC de 95 % 1,38­4,10) était plus élevé chez les hommes atteints d'obésité morbide que chez les autres hommes; aucune association n'a été observée entre l'obésité et la chirurgie de révision ou la dislocation chez les femmes. Par contre, le risque de réintervention était accru chez les femmes atteintes d'obésité morbide (RR 1,59; IC de 95 % 1,05­2,40), mais aucune association n'a été établie entre l'obésité et la réintervention chez les hommes. Conclusion: Les patients atteints d'obésité morbide qui subissent une ATH primaire courent un risque plus élevé de complications et de mortalité à long terme. Des différences ont été observées dans les risques de complications selon le sexe. Les résultats de cette étude devraient guider l'offre de conseils aux patients qui envisagent l'ATH.

Neonatal Outcomes in a Medicaid Population With Opioid Dependence.

Confounding may account for the apparently improved infant outcomes after prenatal exposure to buprenorphine versus methadone. We used Massachusetts Medicaid Analytic eXtract (MAX) data to identify a cohort of opioid-dependent mother-infant pairs (2006-2011), supplemented with confounder data from an external Boston, Massachusetts, cohort (2015-2016). Associations between prenatal buprenorphine exposure versus methadone exposure and infant outcomes in the MAX cohort were adjusted for measured MAX confounders and were additionally adjusted for unmeasured confounders with bias analysis using external cohort data. A total of 477 women in MAX were treated with methadone and 543 with buprenorphine. More buprenorphine users than methadone users were white and used psychotropic medications. After adjustment for MAX confounders, risk ratios among infants exposed to buprenorphine versus those exposed to methadone were 0.45 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.34, 0.61) for preterm birth (birth at <37 weeks) and 0.75 (95% CI: 0.51, 1.11) for low birth weight for gestational age. The mean difference in infant hospitalization was -7.35 days (95% CI: -9.16, -5.55). After further adjustment with bias analysis, the risk ratios were 0.53 (95% CI: 0.39, 0.71) for preterm birth and 1.14 (95% CI: 0.77, 1.69) for low birth weight for gestational age, and the mean difference in infant hospitalization was -3.66 days (95% CI: -5.46, -1.87). External confounder data can be used to adjust for unmeasured confounding in studies of prenatal outcomes among women on opioid agonist therapy based on administrative databases.

Palliative Care is Associated with Reduced Aggressive End-of-Life Care in Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: We examined the delivery of physician palliative care (PC) services and its association with aggressive end-of-life care (EOLC) in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancer in Ontario, Canada. METHODS: All patients with primary cause of death from esophageal, gastric, colon, and anorectal cancer from January 2003 to December 2013 were identified. PC services within 2 years of death were classified: (1) any PC; (2) timing of first PC (≤ 7, 8-90, 91-180, and 181-730 days before death); and (3) intensity of PC measured by number of days used (1st-25th, 26th-50th, 51st-75th, and 76th-100th percentiles). Aggressive EOLC was defined as any of the following: chemotherapy, emergency department visits, hospital or intensive care unit (ICU) admissions (all ≤ 30 days of death), and death in hospital and in the ICU; these were combined as a composite outcome (any aggressive EOLC). RESULTS: The cohort included 34,630 patients, of whom 74% had at least one PC service. Timing of the first PC service varied: ≤ 7 (12%), 8-90 (42%), 91-180 (16%), and 181-730 (30%) days before death. Compared with patients not receiving PC, any PC was associated with a reduction in any aggressive EOLC (risk ratio [RR] 0.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.74-0.76); this association was similar regardless of timing of the first PC service. The most dramatic reduction in aggressive EOLC occurred in patients who received the greatest number of days of PC (RR 0.65, 95% CI 0.63-0.67). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients received PC within 2 years of death. A larger number of days of PC was associated with a greater reduction in aggressive EOLC.

Need for women-centered treatment for substance use disorders: results from focus group discussions.

BACKGROUND: There are few women-centered treatment programs for substance use disorder. We therefore undertook an exploratory study to better understand the treatment experience, barriers, and facilitators of mothers with substance use disorder. METHODS: We conducted two focus groups with a total of ten women with a history of substance use disorder in Kingston (Canada). Women were recruited from a community program for mothers with substance use disorder. The focus groups were recorded, and the resulting data were transcribed, coded, and thematically analyzed. Barriers, facilitators and treatment needs were identified. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 31.1 years, 30% were currently using substances, and 60% had a child in their care. A key concern for women regarding substance use treatment was the welfare of their child(ren). Agencies charged with child protection were a barrier to treatment because women feared disclosing substance use would result in loss of child custody. In contrast, when agencies stipulated that women must attend treatment to retain custody, they facilitated treatment engagement. Other barriers to treatment included identifying treatment programs and completing admission requirements, wait times, counselor ability to address woman-centered issues, fear, safety, and stigma. Women's personal motivation for treatment was a facilitator. Suggestions to improve treatment programs included to allow children to accompany their mothers, involvement of peer support, and women-only programs. CONCLUSIONS: This small but novel study provides important data to inform treatment programming for mothers with substance use disorders.

Ten-Year Mortality and Revision After Total Knee Arthroplasty in Morbidly Obese Patients.

BACKGROUND: Although morbid obesity has been associated with early surgical complications after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), evidence of long-term outcomes is limited. We conducted a population-based study to determine the association between morbid obesity and 10-year survival and revision surgery in patients undergoing primary TKA. METHODS: A cohort study of 9817 patients aged 18-60 years treated with primary TKA from April 1, 2002 to March 31, 2007 was conducted using Ontario administrative health-care databases of universal health-care coverage. Patients were followed up for 10 years after TKA. Risk ratios (RRs) of mortality and TKA revision surgery in patients with body mass index > 45 kg/m2 (morbidly obese patients) compared with body mass index ≤45 kg/m2 (nonmorbidly obese) were estimated adjusting for age, sex, socioeconomic status, and comorbidities. RESULTS: About 10.2% (1001) of the cohort was morbidly obese. Morbidly obese patients were more likely to be female than nonmorbidly obese patients (82.5% vs 63.7%, P < .001) but otherwise similar in characteristics. Morbidly obese patients had higher 10-year risk of death than nonmorbidly obese patients (adjusted RR 1.50, 95% confidence interval 1.22-1.85). About 8.5% (832) of the patients had at least 1 revision procedure in the 10 years after TKA; revision rates did not differ by obesity (adjusted RR 1.09, 95% confidence interval 0.88-1.34). CONCLUSION: Morbidly obese patients ≤60 years had a 50% higher 10-year risk of death but no difference in the risk of revision surgery. Results of this population-based study inform evidence-based perioperative counseling of morbidly obese patients considering TKA.

High complication rate among patients undergoing appendectomy in Ontario: a population-based retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Appendectomy is a common emergency procedure. The risks have been reported in previous studies but often are limited to inpatient complications. The purpose of this study was to describe inpatient and outpatient rates of complications associated with appendectomy in a contemporary population-based cohort and explore factors associated with these complications. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study using linked data for Ontario within Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences databases. Patients who underwent emergent appendectomy between 2009 and 2014 were included. The primary outcome was a complication (death, readmission, emergency department visit, lengthy [> 7 d] hospital stay, percutaneous abscess drainage, reoperation or 1 of the predefined complication codes) occurring within 30 days of surgery. We used modified Poisson regression to identify predictors of complications. RESULTS: A total of 50 369 patients underwent emergent appendectomy over the study period, of whom 16 953 (33.7%) had a perforated appendix. Overall, 14 451 patients (28.7%) (8428 [25.2%] in the nonperforated group and 6023 [35.5%] in the perforated group) had at least 1 complication. The most common complication was an emergency department visit (7942 patients [15.8%]), followed by surgical site infection (4792 [9.5%]). Increasing age, female sex, rural residence, perforation status, daytime surgery and open surgical technique were associated with increased risk of complications. CONCLUSION: We found a higher rate of complications after appendectomy than previously reported. The most common complication was presentation to the emergency department. Our definition of complications is more inclusive than in previous studies and provides a deeper understanding of complications after appendectomy.

CONTEXTE: L'appendicectomie est une intervention urgente qui est courante. Les risques qui y sont associés ont déjà fait l'objet d'études, mais se limitent souvent aux complications perhospitalières. Cette étude avait pour but de décrire les taux de complications chez les patients durant et après leur hospitalisation pour appendicectomie dans une cohorte contemporaine basée dans la population et d'explorer les facteurs associés à ces complications. MÉTHODES: Nous avons procédé à une étude rétrospective à partir des données reliées des bases de données de l'Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences pour l'Ontario. Les patients soumis à une appendicectomie urgente entre 2009 et 2014 ont été inclus. Le paramètre principal était la survenue d'une complication (décès, réadmission, consultation aux urgences, séjour hospitalier prolongé [> 7 j], drainage d'abcès percutané, réintervention ou l'un des codes de complications prédéfinis) dans les 30 jours suivant la chirurgie. Nous avons utilisé la régression de Poisson pour identifier les facteurs prédicteurs de complications. RÉSULTATS: En tout, 50 369 patients ont subi une appendicectomie urgente au cours de la période de l'étude, dont 16 953 (33,7 %) présentaient un appendice perforé. Globalement, 14 451 patients (28,7 %) (8 428 [25,2 %] dans le groupe ayant l'appendice non perforé et 6 023 [35,5 %] dans le groupe ayant l'appendice perforé) ont eu au moins une complication. La complication la plus fréquente a été une consultation aux urgences (7942 patients [15,8 %]), suivie de l'infection du site opératoire (4792 [9,5 %]). L'âge avancé, le fait d'être de sexe féminin, de vivre en milieu rural, un appendice perforé, la chirurgie effectuée durant le jour et la technique chirurgicale ouverte ont tous été associés à un risque accru de complications. CONCLUSION: Nous avons observé un taux de complications post-appendicectomie plus élevé comparativement aux rapports précédents. La complication la plus fréquente était la consultation aux urgences. Notre définition du terme complications est plus inclusive que celle des précédentes études et permet une compréhension plus approfondie des complications post-appendicectomie.

Traumatic Brain Injury and Attempted Suicide Among Veterans of the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Studies of the association between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and suicide attempt have yielded conflicting results. Furthermore, no studies have examined the possible mediating role of common comorbid psychiatric conditions in this association. This study used Veterans Affairs registry data to evaluate the associations between deployment-related TBI, psychiatric diagnoses, and attempted suicide among 273,591 veterans deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn, and who received care from the Department of Veterans Affairs during 2007-2012. We performed Cox proportional hazards regression analyses, adjusting for demographic characteristics. Mediation analyses were conducted to quantify the impact of psychiatric conditions (posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse) on this association. The sample was predominantly male (84%); mean age = 28.7 years. Veterans with TBI (16%) were more likely to attempt suicide than those without (0.54% vs. 0.14%): adjusted hazards ratio = 3.76, 95% confidence interval: 3.15, 4.49. This association was attenuated in mediation analyses (adjusted hazards ratio = 1.25, 95% confidence interval: 1.07, 1.46), with 83% of the association of TBI with attempted suicide mediated by co-occurring psychiatric conditions and with posttraumatic stress disorder having the largest impact. These results suggest that veterans with these conditions should be closely monitored for suicidal behavior.

Infants Born to Opioid-Dependent Women in Ontario, 2002-2014.

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of data characterizing mother-infant pairs with prenatal opioid dependence in Canada. We therefore conducted a study of relevant births in Ontario from 2002 to 2014. METHODS: We used data from the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, the linked databases of coded population-based Ontario health services records. Differences in characteristics of opioid-dependent mother-neonate pairs and infant hospital costs by year were assessed using linear regression, and we calculated rates of preterm birth, low birth weight, birth defects, mortality, and neonatal abstinence syndrome. RESULTS: The number of infants born to opioid-dependent women in Ontario rose from 46 in 2002 to almost 800 in 2014. Methadone was most frequently used for prenatal opioid dependence; there was little buprenorphine or buprenorphine + naloxone use. Rates of preterm birth and low birth weight were high. The proportion of neonates with neonatal abstinence syndrome (58%) was stable over the study period. The mean length of neonatal hospital stay was 13.96 days. Infant hospital costs increased from $724 774 in 2003 to $10 539 988 in 2013, and the mean cost per infant grew from $9928 to $12 917. Birth defect prevalence was 75.84/1000 live births (95% CI 68.12/1000 to 84.10/1000). The stillbirth rate was 11.39/1000 births (95% CI 8.47/1000 to 14.99/1000), and the infant mortality rate was 12.21/1000 live births (95% CI 9.16/1000 to 15.95/1000). CONCLUSION: We observed a 16-fold increase in the number of mother-infant pairs affected by opioid dependence in Ontario over the past decade. Adverse birth outcome rates were high. Expanded services for opioid-dependent women and their children are needed.